Delamontagne, Saltman share lead

Francois Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman have set the early clubhouse target at the Madeira Islands Open.

Frenchman Francois Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman of Scotland have set the early clubhouse target at the Madeira Islands Open.
Delamontagne, 32 and yet to win on the European Tour, carded a first-round score of 68, despite suffering a poor front nine where two birdies were overshadowed by bogeys on the fourth, fifth and eighth holes.
His form improved drastically on the back nine where he made two eagles at 10 and 14 and dropped only one shot in between and adding two further birdies.

Saltman, 25, from Edinburgh, looked set for an unspectacular start before he birdied three of the final four holes to join Delamontagne on four under.

The 2005 Johnnie Walker champion Emanuele Canonica finished a shot further back, and Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth, who won the Madeira event in 2008, remained in contention after leading the way during the early stages but finishing on one under par after a double-bogey at the 14th.

He was joined in the clubhouse on one under by the English duo of Gary Lockerbie and Chris Lloyd, as well as Spaniard Carlos del Moral.
Two more Englishmen – Chris Gane and Lloyd Kennedy – had still to finish their first rounds, but looked competitive and set to challenge the leaders.

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